Residents worried about growing sinkhole in Castle Hayne neighborhood

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — All the rain yesterday is making a New Hanover County neighborhood’s problem even bigger. Residents say a large sink hole is being ignored, and they’re worried things will only get worse before they get better.

“The only thing holding the roadway together at this time is the asphalt,” resident Duane Eastmond said.

But as the sinkhole on Mossy Rock Court in Castle Hayne gets worse, residents say everyone they turn to for help passes the blame.

“The developer never handed anything over to a homeowner’s association. The county says that we’re a private road, although there is nothing on any of the signs that say that we’re a private road, and the biggest limbo is who is responsible to pay,” Eastmond said.

Residents have tried to figure out where the buck and the responsibility stops. They say they’re worried if something is not done soon, someone is going to get seriously hurt.

“There are a lot of small children that play in this area. People always ride their bikes on this road. It’s a serious safety issue,” Eastmond said.

New Hanover County says it will repair the sinkhole, because the road being blocked off is a public safety concern. Despite what some residents think, the county says residents will not be held accountable for the expense to fix the sinkhole.

The real question is when will the work be done?

The county says it has started taking contracts on fixing the sinkhole. A spokesperson says with the holidays coming up, though, it may take longer than usual to fix the problem.